A New York City bus driver was stabbed to death this week for reasons no one may completely understand. Edwin Thomas was punched in the head and stabbed in the chest several times on his busy Bed-Stuy route around noon.The killer supposedly stabbed Thomas because he would not give him a free transfer after already being permitted to ride for free. The price of the transfer... $2.
What's going on with people?
According to the New York Daily News:
The killer bolted the bloodshed just after noon on the B46 bus, notorious for being the worst in the city for fare evasions. The first cops on the scene put Thomas in their squad car and rushed him to Woodhull Hospital, where he died in the emergency room.With yet another senseless killing in only a matter of days, questions have to be asked... is life worth so little nowadays? Are these symptoms of our recession?
First, a man gets killed by rabid shoppers over some flatscreens at Walmart and now another man is killed over some change.
Life has to be worth more than this. More than money and the things it can buy. With an ever-deteriorating economy, unfortunately this type of senselessness seems inevitable. Maybe it's about our value system and what we truly care about as Americans, but something has to change. When you lose all deference for life and murder becomes a possibility, something has to give. ...
Thomas becomes the first NYC bus driver killed in nearly 20 years. Ironically, he became a bus driver because he deemed his previous job driving armored trucks was too dangerous.
"He did not want to pay when he came on the bus," the passenger, who didn't want her name used, said of the suspect. "He said, 'Give me a ride' and the bus driver did not want to.
Two children are now without a father because some psychopath didn't want to pay $2 ... is that the price life?
"He was a nice driver," she said of Thomas, an employee of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority for seven years. "I rode the bus with him several times. He was killed for no reason at all."
Comments: (80)
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By: Gregory Shack on 12/04/2008 12:11AM
Notorious for being the worst B46. Why was there no transpertation police office patroling the bus route? The sign was there,Mr.Thomas put his life on line every day and his employer know this and did noting!noting!.
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By: nee nee on 12/04/2008 8:09AM
I feel deeply for this man and his family,however, I think that he should have just given the man a transfer. If ever I am in a position where I am dealing with the public as I often am (I work in customer service),If someone is hostile and my safety is an issue, I ALWAYS give in and have to deal with the manager later. If my name is not Walmart or Macy's and the
profits are not going directly into my pockets, then it is just not worth it to argue with people. We are taught that if you are being robbed just hand over whatever it is the suspect wants. I would not be willing to die protecting someone elses bottomline!
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By: grace robinson on 12/04/2008 9:18AM
One thing I can't understand is why you would put your life on the line like some plantation dweller in slavery. MTA corp does not belong to you. Why would you take a chance of being shot,stabbed,disfigured,etc?
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By: mormoney on 12/04/2008 9:47AM
How can this be ? There are a lot of sick people out there, with no care for human life.
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By: nomorfreepass on 12/04/2008 9:22AM
This man should be hung when they find him!!!!
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By: nomorfreepass on 12/04/2008 9:49AM
Two words,,,, HANG HIM ! When this guy is caught,,, HANG HIM !
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By: Pete Rock on 12/05/2008 7:36PM
God bless Edwin's soul and his family. I'm a bus operator on that same line for 5 years (B46)and that is an ongoing thing. Not always Murder but assaults are regular. The NYCTA and The NYPD do not send help out there because 90% of the bus operators are minorities. These racist angencies are ran at the top by cold,ungodly, money hurry pepole who could care less about money over life. Bloombreg is part of it all cus he has done nothing to change kkk mantality.
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By: Khadija on 12/04/2008 9:53AM
Grace, Nee Nee, I agree with you 100%. While I feel HORRIBLY for this poor man and his family, and pray that the killer is prosecuted to the FULL extent of the law, I have never understood customer service reps not simply giving in to a demanding, and potentially dangerous customer. I'm sorry but my life is not worth the price of a transfer. In situations like these our safety MUST come first and if someone were badgering me for a transfer or whatever, I'd just hand it over cuz people are crazy nowadays. But again, my thoughts and prayers are with this man's family and I hope this criminal fries for what he did.
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By: MORMONEY on 12/04/2008 10:19AM
Grace Robinson,, What the hell does this have to do with slavery?????????????
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By: Sharita Mason on 12/04/2008 10:19AM
ITS A SHAME WHAT IS GOING ON TODAY.PRAYERS TO HIS FAMILY.ALL OVER A TRANSFER.
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